My kids always had little booties like this when they were little. In fact, my youngest still wears a similar pair except hers are leather. These booties are called Isabooties and are completely animal free!! This is a huge benefit for people leading the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle which has many environmental benefits. Pediatricians have long been recommending soft soled shoes such as these for new walkers.

Parents know that kids often slip on surfaces like tile or hardwood and little ones need grippers of some kind on their feet to avoid wiping out constantly. These shoes have a material called ToughTek on the bottoms that is the same as used in climbing equipment and rescue dog booties. It really prevents lots of bruises and tears and is machine washable and dryable!

Instead of using leather, these shoes use Ultrasuede which has some definite advantages over leather. First of all, and most obvious, no animals are harmed! They are 100% animal free. Ultrasuede can also be machine washed and dried without losing it’s shape. The comparable leather shoes claim to be machine washable but end up coming out balled up and worn out. Parents know how often kids stuff needs to be washed so it’s important for both budgets and the overfilling landfills that the product does not wear out quickly. Lastly, ultrasuede is a very breathable and comfortable fabric that won’t make your little ones tootsies sweatier (and stinkier) than they already are!

This company uses recycled materials in their packaging with soy based inks. They are American made, formaldehyde free and use non-toxic dyes. Chemicals may not seem to be of much importance in a shoe. However, kids put everything in their mouth — including their feet! It’s a great idea to have non-toxic shoes as well as the other non-toxic kids products already on the market such as crayons and nail polish.

The only question is where can I get them? Their website has a store locator listing stores in the U.S., Canada, Denmark, France, Holland, Japan, Singapore, etc. etc. You can also buy them online on their site or enter Organic Girl’s contest to win a pair for free! Thanks Organic Girl!!!

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If this is what your idea of an eco-friendly wedding looks like then you need to get seriously updated!! Check out a brand new Wedding Blog that will keep you up to date on all the new wedding trends and fashions. The blog is run by a team of experts (wedding planners, designers, etc.) with posts by brides and grooms that are in the midst of their own planning! They have a ton of resources for you to rely on and posts that cover a huge range of topics.

My favorite topic would, of course, be everything eco-friendly. This site has a range of wedding planning ideas that incorporate a variety of lifestyles, including the earth friendly lifestyle. I read a really interesting post about creating an eco-friendly gift registry which is something that I’ve never even thought about! This blogger, Melanie Salerno, will be posting an eco-friendly article every Friday as an ongoing series on this wedding blog. She is also featuring handmade finds monthly on this site which is something I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on.

Whether you’re planning your big day or helping with a friend’s, wedding websites are a great resource for up to the minute wedding information. Weddings are a momentous life ocassion that require lots of planning, budgeting and information. They mark a new beginning and what better way to start your life together than by honouring the planet at the same time! Keep your eye on this wedding blog for hints and tips for wedding ideas for every lifestyle. They definitely have a bit of everything from make-up ideas to decorating ideas to invitation ideas! Let’s face it, brides (and grooms) need all the help they can get with their big day. Turn to people who know what they’re talking about!

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This week’s featured Etsy seller is Nue to Me. This talented crafter has found a way to repurpose old t-shirts into some really cute, fashionable and practical items for kids. Each item is once of a kind and designed by her so it’s not like getting your daughter a gap dress and everyone in her preschool class has it. What a terrible fashion faux pas!! lol My daughter actually loves it when people are wearing the same thing as her — samesies or twinsies is what she calls it. Three year olds might think it’s cute but I think it’s more of the mindless drone consumerism that seems to be rampant. I love the custom look of these dresses as well as the green-ness of upcycling old t-shirts.

The dresses made by Nue to Me are my personal fav of her items. You can see the quality and work that goes into stitching each dress. The designs are carefully laid out according to what sorts of designs the t-shirts she’s working with have. I love the two dresses pictured here…absolutely adorable! She has a variety of designs and sizes available on her site. They range in size from 6 months to 6 years with a ton of different styles so even the hardest to please little diva would be easy to shop for.

The t-shirt dresses that she makes tend to leave lots of left over bits of t-shirt material. With these bits, she makes cute hats in a variety of colours and sizes. There’s the mohawk design featured here as well as a dread lock pirate version! These would be awesome when the snow starts falling soon and the temperatures are dipping. These would be great for Halloween as well! Just imagine how comfy the often washed t-shirt material would be even for the the youngest little one and the sizes would fit for quite a while because of the stretch of the material.

She also makes skirts from co-ordinating panels of t-shirt material like this Disney-inspired piece here. Check out her Etsy site for more of her designs and to see what else she makes out of the bits and pieces left over. This crafter leaves very little waste left over from her designs of wristlet bags made out of sleeves, masks, over size bibs (called dinner armour for a reason!) from the front and shoulder pieces, hair clips, etc. etc. etc. If only I was this talented!!! I’m thinking I might have to place a couple of orders from her for this Christmas…I suggest you do the same before she runs out of pieces!

She has a couple of other Etsy stores as well — World of Whimm which features fantastic kids costume pieces for boys and girls and On a Whimm which features miscellaneous cute eco-friendly products such as tacks, pin cushions and cat nip toys. Or you could check out her blog at www.worldofwhimm.blogspot.com for more news and information on this imaginative crafter.

Sounds too good to be true right? This seems to be one of those rare circumstances where it’s even cooler than you think it is! New Jammies is a company that is making 100% organic sleepwear for kids that actually gets kids to eat their fruits and vegetables! They come in a variety of adorable food inspired picks although if you’re looking for the grease laden french fries from McDonald’s, you’ll have to shop somewhere else! These jammies are the all natural kind and each pair comes with a book that helps parents to encourage kids to eat what they should be eatting — fruits and veggies!!

In our world of what we want it when we want it, kids meals have become little more than pre-prepared overpacked trash. These tendencies are leading to huge overconsumptions of sugar and salt and contributing to an incredible rate of childhood obesity. Check out articles on the slow food movement for more information on how healthy eating can affect people of all ages. Anything that makes healthy eating a regular part of a child’s day and exposes them to the normalcy of eating fresh and organic is definitely a step in the right direction!

Check out Organic Girl’s blog for your chance to win a pair for the apple of your eye — that’s actually the name of the apple design! They contribute a portion of their proceeds to Fetal Hope — which is a cause close to my heart as a mother of a lost baby. They also contribute clothes and blankets to preemies in NICU units and are a member of the Organic Trade Association. This is another company that I can definitely stand behind and support. Now just how to decide on which design to buy….

Once in a while, an artist conveys an emotion so strongly that words cannot even describe it. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words but this painting by Fabian Perez speaks in volumes, not mere words. The painting is called Reflections in the Sun. Each blade of grass is illuminated by the light of the sun as a girl sits among it basking in the glow of the light. The painting uses light and texture to show the emotions of reconnecting with nature. This is surely an activity that more of us need to indulge in. It seems as though our entire existences are marked by the opposition to nature instead of the oneness with it that is experienced when we are children. We drive nearly everywhere, spend hours inside watching television or surfing the net and work insufferably long hours in the tedium of offices.

Fabian Perez’s work here reflects what I am trying to teach my children a love of the environment for! I’m not trying to teach them to live sustainable lives — recycling, thinking before consuming, choosing organic when possible, etc. — only to have them sit inside on their butts playing video games! We need to get out there and do as the painting suggests — reflect in the sun!

The entire body of Fabian Perez’s work shows an entire range of emotions from passion to seduction to anger and fear. Many of his pieces illustrate the art of dance in it’s variety of styles — the Flamenco and the Tango especially. I recommend checking out his portfolio before you head to the great outdoors!

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Looking for the perfect baby gift for the earth loving mother to be?? Well, look no further! Organic Girl has discovered it for you at a company called Baby Star. They specialize in modern and functional kids products that are formaldehyde free and 100% cotton or soy organic cotton in the case of these adorable little jump suits.

The pattern on these are unisex so they’re perfect for the babies that you don’t know the gender of yet. The style is modern and retro at the same time and would appeal to any design savvy parent who is looking for comfort, style and a fit with an environmentally friendly lifestyle when they’re purchasing children’s clothes. These snap suits are sure to be a hit at the baby shower and beyond. There’s a draw for a freebie right now at Organic Girl as well as a discount code if you’re not the lucky winner. Definitely check it out!

One of my favorite eco-friendly building materials has got to be the incredibly beautiful range of recycled glass tiles that are now available. They come in a wide array of colours and sizes to fit any style and budget. Tiling is a perfect DIY project that even the most amateur home owner can tackle over a weekend. It really just takes time and patience to beautify a space with these eco-friendly tiles. Most tile stores can give great advice on what materials are needed to lay the tiles and some quick tips on getting a professional look.

Recycled glass tiles really show off how sexy eco-friendly can be. These tiles make use of tons of glass that is headed for the landfills and repurpose it into beautiful tiles that would look great in any showhome. When you are purchasing products to renovate your home or to build a new one, consider looking into all the earth friendly supplies that are now available. Your designer and your planet will thank you!

There is no word that brings as much disappointment and misery to the hearts and minds of employees as the word inventory. I’ve worked at the same small company for years now in a variety of jobs. It seems that no matter what job I’m doing (technical writer at the moment), I always get sucked into the dreaded abyss that is inventory! The last four or five days of my life have been lost to the cause.

Okay, it’s not that bad I guess. I mean, at least I have a barcode scanner! I remember back in the old days when all the part numbers and descriptions had to be entered manually. That was a real nightmare!! The barcodes and scanners have definitely made life a lot easier. I am not at the office today so I’m just hoping that the counts are all done by the time I’m back in on Wednesday. At least it’s only once a year!

The days of summer have disappeared and been replaced with the first few days of autumn.  The colder temperatures don’t mean that you can’t enjoy the great outdoors any longer though.  Try getting a Woodhaven firewood rack to store up wood for the backyard fire pit.  Sitting around a blazing fire can help keep you warm while you enjoy the backyard for the next couple of months.

Once the snow starts flying, grab some logs from the Woodhaven firewood rack to bring inside.  Many homes still use wood burning fireplaces as a cost-effective source of heat.  This can really help bring down your heating costs.  It’s important to get a quality firewood rack to keep your wood dry and covered during the winter months though.  Wet firewood is of little use and causes excess crackling and smoke. 

Do your homework to ensure that you are getting a good quality firewood rack that will last throughout many seasons before you make your purchase.  It’s very wasteful both for the environment and for your bank account to buy a cheap, low quality item three or four times instead of just buying one high quality and cost effective piece of equipment that will last many years.  The Woodhaven firewood rack has a really good reputation with great consumer reviews as well as being featured on shows such as the CBS Early Show with Bob Villa and DIY TV.  It has a 10 year structural warranty and comes in seven sizes so you can store as much or as little firewood as you’d like!

It comes with a free short cover that will keep the first 12″ of firewood covered while allowing air to circulate throughout the rest of the stack to prevent mildew and mold.  If you live somewhere with an extreme winter season (like me, unfortunately), you might want to think about buying the optional long cover to cover the entire stack of wood to protect it from the elements.

Another nice bonus of this rack is that it’s not ugly!  You won’t have to try to hide it away from sight or worry about the paint getting all scratched up right away.  It’s got a thick coat of powder coat to help prevent scratches.  It would look fine to keep within reach of the doorway for those chilly winter nights where you’re not going to want to be outside for any longer than necessary.  The rack keeps even the bottom layer of wood clean and dry by elevating it from the ground so you won’t need to worry about tracking a ton of dirt and snow into the house either.

I was reading the weather forecasts for this weekend here in Canada and they’re calling for the “S” word.  I dread even saying it…that’s right, it’s snow!  I think it’s absolutely time for my family to pack up for a beach vacation!  I’d love to head back to California and hit up a store with beach cruisers for sale.  They’d have to be super affordable cruisers though in a range of styles just like those available in South Cali at cruiser style.  We could all hop on bikes and get out and enjoy nature.  Cruisers are awesome for all members of the family that want to take a casual ride because they’re so simple to ride…even for kids!  Pedal forward to go and back to stop, just like when you were a kid!  That’s the best kind of vacation after all — one where you become one with the environment again.  To refocus and shake up the day to day grind that everyone seems to fall victim to.  If we head out soon, maybe the “s” word in the forecast will be sunshine instead of snow.  California dreaming….

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